Toy train actuated circuit controller



Oct. 2l, 1941. M H, FRlsBlE 2,259,851

TOY TRAIN ACTUATED CIRCUIT CONTRULLER Filed April 17, 1939' ATTORNEY Patented Got. '21, 1941 az'issil Tor TRAINACTUATELCIRCUITcoNTnoL- l ,Marshall n. Frisbie, Hamden,:colagassignonm The A. cuGilb'ert Coany, New'navemconngjj a corporatiqn' of Maryland `*ApparatiuitAprilrz, 1939,`seriainof2cao 9 Claims. 2464-246) This inventionrelates to train operated circuit aiecting devices of a type adapted for `use in electric toy railway systems and particularly concerns a type of such device suited .to asso-v ciation with 4electrified 'rails of a toy track Vin Q a manner to be operably lengaged by some part of a passing toy train. Y L c i One object of the inventionis Ato .provide a circuit affecting device of this character adapted to coactwith a traction wheel of the passing a@ toy train. Q v

Another object is to provide a device capable of coacting with a'train wheel throughouty a substantial distance of travel of the latter along the track. L

Another object .is to provide a device of this character which is free from any vliabilityof derailing or` otherwise interfering iwith vthe smooth riding of the train along thetrack;V

A further object is toincorporate theworking parts of such a device in a single unitary appliance capable of being quickly and removably installed as an attachment to the track structure without th'e necessity of lifting the trackage from its iioor or table support surface ,lv and at arbitrary desired locations along the track. f, v

A still further object is to incorporate in such a unit a binding post or binding posts Vsuitable for the ready connection and disconnection of electric lead wires or electric circuit conductors which may be utilized in part for supplying current to, or tapping current from, they rail 0r rails of the toy track. y

The invention further has as its object an 3 embodiment of the aforementioned features in an assembled structure of extreme simplicity and low cost of manufacture. e

These and related objects will appear in greater particular from the following description of a preferred construction illustrative of the nature of the improvements and in which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan View drawn on a scale much larger than the usual actual size, of an electric Contact shoe unit embodying the present invention. l

Fig. 2 is a view taken in longitudinal cross section on the planes 2-2-2 in Fig. 1.' l

Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking at the unit of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showing fragments of the rails of a toy track and of one of the traction `wheels of a toy train riding thereon. v Y

Fig. 4 is a viewlooking upwardly at thebottom ofthe contact'shoeunit.v 1- .Y

Figa 5V is a View taken insecticn crosswiseof lthe track rails between.. the track. supporting sleepers looking Vfrornthe. right towardthe end lof .the wheel. depressedl contact shoe ,in-Eignet. .Fig 6 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 5; sholwingthe contact vshoe in its normally elevated position .in Fig. 2. whenrelieved of the weightV of` the train zwheels. 'iV j Y. .i

Fig. 7 isa fragm'entaryview ofone .ofthe apertured en'd portions l,of .the t insulative base plate of the unit. withthe contactshoe removed :to "expose the shape. of theaperture. 1

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View of a portion ofthe structurefin Fig 3 showing a modified mountingfor onebinding post clip. s

In Fig. 6 one of the usual sleepersk `III of an 'electric toy krailway Vis shown extending crosspwise under, and supporting, a traction rail I .I jand a power or 'third rail I2. The latterzrail in two-rail forms of toy track construction Amay comprise the other traction rail. Bothrrails are held downwardly against the top of the sleeper as usual by tonguesy I3 struck up out ofthe roof wall-of they hollow sheet metal sleeperln Aa mannerrto overlapthe foot flange I Spofthe lrail andA be squeezed-:downwardly -thereagainst- One or both of the rails may be separated from meeheneel ,21nd, electrical contactewith sleepers I0 by-separatoriacings I4 ofdin'sulativematerial such as thin sheet libre.' Additional tongues like I3 may of course .be employed ,to secure the base flanges I8y to the sleeper at the opposite sideiof each rail butvare omitted frommthe drawing forirclarity. e A All parts of Vmy improved ,contact shoe .appliance comprising a train actuated,H track associated electrical control device, are'mounted on an elongated base'plate I5 whichv may be made of `a strip of thick fibre or otherfsuitably stift'insulat-ive material. Basev plate I5 has a .aperture I6 near each kof its ends shaped. to Vproduce the aperture Ycontained tongueV I.I as .shownin Fig. 7. ff Y 4The. elongated metallic contactshoe 'I9,ha s tiirnedfdown endsZO each-.containing a vertically elongated Vslot 2| occupiedV and vguided by the tongue Il. Normally shoe I9 is'kept'elevated in the position shown in. Figs. 2 and 6 bythe up bearing ends ofthe bowed leaf spring, 22 with the bottom endsof its slots 2l, stoppedby tongues I'I, respectively. The lift` spring (22; is .preferebly mede 0f `goed electric `.conductive illeterielf; .Steh es.. Serine Press. er.: phosphorus bronze, and at its central portion is secured to the upper surface of base plate I by a suitable fastening means such as a hollow rivet or eyelet 23. Eyelet 23 also retains against the bottom surface of base plate I5 a binding post clip 24 of resilient conductive material adapted to trap the end of an electrical conductor or lead wire 25 as shown in Fig. 3. Clip 2'4 is prevented from swiveling about the' eyelet 23 by means of its tongue 25 whi-ch projects upwardly into the material of the base plate. If needed, a similar downwardly by the weight of the locomotive or train unit to its position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 as the wheel rolls along the stretch of track where the shoe is located. Spring 22, of course, is weak enough to yield downwardly to the weight of the locomotive or of any car of the train without lifting it from the rail. Thus the metal of wheel 34 electrically bridges contact shoe I9 and the traction rail II and completes the circuit tongue may extend downwardly from the leaf spring 22 into some loose fitting guiding aper-l Aeyelets3II and held from swiveling about its eye'- let by' a tongue 3I pocketed in the insulatie material of the base plate". The eyelet;33 which secures one of the spring arms 29 may also` be .used to clamp between the latter and base plate I5 the mounting end of a second binding post Vclip 32 which may in all respects be like clip 24 except that it will preferably be shaped lso* that its movement in resiliently flexing to' accommodate the attachment of a separate lead wire 35 willA not interfere with theresilient flexing of the spring arm 29 when the latter is being forced past the rail flange for installing or removing the contact shoe.

Fig. 8 shows that binding post clip 32 may if preferred be independently secured to base plate `I5 by a separate eyelet 33 and thereby removed from such mechanical proximity' to spring arm 29 as might endanger interference inthe respective performances of these two parts'. The clip 32 as here shown remains in electrical contact with spring arm 29 by means of the extended length of its mounting end so that the latter still `remains clamped between spring arm 29 and base plate` I5.

Thus all metallic parts of the contact shoe unit, except only the spring detent arms 28 and 29, are held spaced from electrical contact with rails II, I2, when the base plate I5 is placed between said rails and pressed downwardly against the foot fianges thereof. The entire appliance preferably has a length less than the distance between sleepers I0 in order not to interfere with the latter.

In installing the appliance at any selected location along the track, the mounting arms 28, 29 are forced to cam inwardly to their broken line ypositions in Fig. 6 when passing the relatively narrow space between the foot flanges ofthe rails and thereafter spring apart to their rfull line positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6 so that the base plate I5 brings up against the rail fianges with afsortof snap action and is-yieldingly held there with considerable firmness by the four spring arms v28,- 28 and 29, 29. It will be observed in Fig. 6 that one longedge of contact shoe I9 is thus positioned so closely to the traction rail II that the top surface of this shoe, being normally high enough, is engaged Yby the flange on the metallic conductive wheels 34 of the locomotive or other unit of a toy train and thereby pressed from binding post clip 24 to binding post clip 32, this circuit including eyelet 23, lift spring 22,

icontactshoe I9, wheel 34, track II, and spring f arm 29. The broken line position of contact vshoe I9 in Fig. 3 shows that the shoe is capable of tilting ,freely as well as being free to move up In use, my improved contact shoe appliance in the formi illustrated and described, as well as in forms differing therefrom ln detail, may be set down as a unit between the rails at any selected locatiorrinl a system of toy electric railway track to produce any desired electric circuit controlling effect when the toy train arrives at or passes said location. It will be understood that the electric .circuit affected by the appliance may contain'a.

source' ofv current supply together with electrically operable signal lights, train whistles, bells, or apparatus for starting or stopping the train itself Yby controlling the supply of current to its track or any cycle of track switching or other electrically producible effect in toy railway system apparatus and appurtenances capableV of enhancing the yrealism of the performance of the elements employed in the system.

Obvious substitutions and departures from the exact construction herein disclosed may be made without exceeding the' scope of this invention and the followngcla'ims are intended to cover all such substitutions and departures which fairly fall within their terms:

I claim:

l.. The combination with flanged rails of an electrified toy track for toy trains, of an electrical contact making appliance adapted for readily removableattachment to said track, including a movable electrical conductive element constructed and arranged to project retractably into the path of travel. of some portion of a toy train riding along said track, and a base structure carrying said elementand spanning the space between the nearest flanges of respectively adjacent track rails and overlying and resting on the top surfaces of said flanges and insulated from one of said rails, together with means carried by said base structure constructed and arranged releasably to hook-under one or more of the said rail flanges inra manner to hold said structure in stationary position seated on the top surface of said flanges.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, in which the said electrical conductive element comprises a depressible continuous-elongated stiff strip of yconductive material horizontally superimposed over and spaced above the said mounting base and having downward disposed ends extending past vsai'dlcase to below the level of the said rail fianges, together with means carried by said mounting base to engage with and limit upward movements-of. said strip-ends and a spring constructed and arranged to urge said strip constantly upward. f

3. Ihe combination with flanged rails of an electrified toy track for toy trains, of an electrical contact making appliance adapted for readily removable attachment to said track, including a movable electrical conductive element constructed and arranged to project retractably into the path of travel of some portion of a toy train riding along said track, and a plate-like mounting base of insulating material wide enough to span the space between the nearest anges of respectively adjacent track rails and to overlie the top surfaces of said flanges while narrow enough to clear all other nearest together portions of said respectively adjacent rails so as to be passable between said other portions to and from a position resting on the top surfaces of said flanges, together with means carried by said base projecting downward therefrom in a direction to hook under the bottom of at least one of said rail anges in a manner releasably to hold said structure stationary in its said position.

4. A circuit affecting appliance to be detachably mounted on rails of a toy electric track system, embodying a unitary assemblage of parts, including a stiff elongated base plate of electrical insulative material having a width adapted to bridge the space between and overlap the foot flanges of spaced track rails, resilient detent devices carried by said base plate constructed and arranged to engage with said foot flanges in a manner to hold said plate firmly but removably seated thereon, a stiff elongated shoe of electrical -conductive material, and means to support said shoe resiliently above said base plate in a manner to permit the shoe to be depressed in relation to said base plate.

5. A circuit affecting appliance to be detachably mounted on flanged rails of a toy electric track system, embodying a unitaryassemblage of parts, including a sti" elongated base plate of electrical insulative material having a width adapted to bridge the space between and overlap the foot flanges of spaced track rails, spring arms carried by said base plate and bowed laterally outward in respectively opposite directions to a greater spacing than said space between said rail flanges in a manner to latch into holding engagement with the edges of said rail anges when the appliance is pressed downward to a seated position upon said flanges, a stiff elongated shoe of electrical conductive material, and means to support said shoe resiliently above said base plate in a manner to permit the shoe to be depressed in relation to said base plate.

6. A circuit affecting appliance for toy electric railway systems embodying a unitary assemblage of parts including a stiff elongated base plate of electrical insulative material having longitudinally spaced U-shaped apertures each aording a guide tongue, a stii elongated shoe of electrical conductive material having downward turnedV opposite ends passing through said apertures respectively and each containing a slot elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said base plate and engaged by one of the said guide tongues in a manner to limit movement of said shoe away from said base plate, and means to support said shoe resiliently above said base plate in a manner to permit the shoe to be depressed relative thereto.

7. A circuit switching appliance for releasable attachment to a toy railway tra-ck having rails with conventional foot flanges and adjoining Webs upstanding respectively therefrom, including an electrical contact device for completing an electric circuit, a rigid base structure adapted to overlap and rest upon the web adjoining surfaces of the said foot flanges of two of said rails and carrying said device positioned adjacent to one of sai-d rails and including electrical insulative material, and resilient detent devices carried by said base structure projecting downward therefrom and constructed and arranged to spring automatically into and out of holding engagement with underneath portions of said foot flanges of the track rails as a consequence of the mere movements of said base structure respectively to and from a position seated against the web-adjoining surfaces of said flanges. v

8. An electrical contacting unit for use with toy electric trains and track, embodying in combination, an elongated stiif thin electrical insulative card adapted for assemblage with electried toy track, a stiff flat strip of conductive metal bare and exposed on each 0f its opposite faces and extending alongside said car-d in spaced relation thereto said strip having bent-over end portions extending into guiding engagement with said card, a leaf spring arranged between said card and strip in a manner to press conductively and slidably at two longitudinally spaced points against one of said bare strip faces in a manner urging the strip away from the card and leaving the other bare face of said strip free to be wiped tilted and depressed by a toy train in passing, a fastener securing said leaf spring to the face of said insulative card nearest the said conductive strip and penetrating said card, and a binding post for electrical connections secured to the opposite face of said card by said fastener.

9. An electrical contacting unit for use with toy electric trains and track, embodying in combination, an elongated stiif thin electrical insulative card adapted for assemblage with electried toy track, a stiff flat strip of conductive metal bare and exposed on each of its opposite faces and extending alongside said card in spaced relation thereto said strip having bent-over end portions extending into guiding engagement with said card, an elongated single bowed leaf` spring having its opposite extremities free and arranged between said card and strip in such manner that said extremities press conductively and slidably at two longitudinally spaced points respectively against one of said bare strip faces in a manner urging the strip away from the card and leaving the other bare face of said strip free to be wiped tilted and depressed by a toy train in passing, said bowed spring being secured at its mid portion to said insulative card whereby exure of said spring when deected by movement of said strip toward said card causes said free extremities of the spring to rub somewhat against the face of said strip.

MARSHALL H. FRISBIE. 

